Episode 185: Why-Men (Lesser-Known X-Men; Stacy X, Lifeguard, Slipstream, and Northstar)

Continuing to work towards completing the “Lesser Known X-Men” feature, we cover four characters this time; three short-term members, and one who is possibly well-known enough to not qualify, but is important enough to merit inclusion to make sure as many learn about him as possible.

That’s Iceman she’s talking to, before he came out of the closet.

Her New Warriors look.

Lifeguard as her powers originally manifested.

And her look after the Shi’ar DNA kicked in.

And this is how her brother reacted when he saw the “difference.” Um, overreact much?

Northstar in his John Byrne-y goodness.

Can you guess in what decade this issue came out (pun intended)?

Congrats, guys! You only get the wraparound cover for very special occasions!

Episode 184: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Xorn, Zorn, and Chamber)

Returning to my Lesser Known X-Men feature (affectionately dubbed the “Why-Men”), we break from chronological joining to cover twins who were recruited at different times, but are so close that they may as well be one character, as well as a mutant mentioned briefly in the “New Warriors Vol 4” episode of the show.

“Make me one with everything…”

As someone reading the books at the time, this was a big twist!

Zorn, as opposed to Xorn. (Babylon 5 fans, insert “Zathras” joke here)

Does he have to get his shirts custom made, or do they just do that when he puts them on?

So, apparently the lines on the face are built into Apocalypse’s DNA.

Jono as Decibel. Although at the volume he could produce, he probably should have been called Bel.

Episode 181: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Thunderbird, Mirage, and Sage)

Continuing once again with the Lesser Known X-Men feature, we’ve reached the “aughts” or the first decade of the 2000s, where we find an Indian with a Native American codename, a Native American who gets tangled up with Norse Mythology, and a spy with a computer for a brain that wants to be a superhero.

There’s not even any bird symbology to his powers. I just don’t get it.

Mirage in one of her earliest appearances.

When she became a Valkyrie, she grew up!

An early Tessa appearance (yes, all the women in the Hellfire Club basically dressed like that).

Sage as the “Woman in the Chair” mode. (Did Jubilee say it was okay to borrow her jacket?)

Episode 179: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Joseph, Cecilia Reyes, Maggott and Marrow)

Wrapping up the 90s era of “Lesser Known X-Men,” we have the clone, the doctor, the sentient slugs, and the bone-wielding Morlock all joining the team, though few of them stay on the team for too long. What happened to them after? I discuss that and many other details of their lives in this episode.

You can tell he’s not the real Magneto. Erik would never look that surprised.

Welcome to the X-Men. Hope you…ow! Ow! Stop hitting me!

He’s eating for three. Actually, two are eating for him…

A little taste of Maggott’s South African accent.

Marrow’s first appearance.

And a more recent appearance. You can tell she’s the same, right?

Episode 178: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Bishop, Kwannon & Cannonball)

The 1990s was one of the best-selling eras for the X-Men comics.  But, if you didn’t read them, you might not know who Bishop, Kwannon, or Cannonball are.  Take a listen here to find out what makes each of those characters unique and what they brought to the team.

I think you might be overstating it there…A lot will be the same, trust me.

It’s not Betsy, I swear!

Revanche is a dish best served…confusingly.

Little Sam Guthrie. Not his best look…

Good idea. Cover the forehead with goggles.

Episode 176: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Dazzler and Forge)

Continuing our focus on the “Almost Famous” members of the X-Men, we wrap up the members who joined in the 80s with the Disco Queen known as Dazzler, and the Indigenous American inventor who goes by Forge.  But, before that, an important announcement about the future of the show.

Oh yeah, and she’s an expert roller skater. Just in case she wasn’t “Disco” enough for you.

Her first (but nowhere near her last) costume change.

Forge working on some Krakoan tech, showing off his cybernetic leg.

Episode 174: Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Rachel Summers, Longshot, Psylocke)

Our fourth in a recurring series on the less famous members of the X-Men roster, we reach the 80s, with a alternate future child, a mullet-wearing alien clone, and a body swapped telepathic ninja.  Yes, the X-Men are weird.  Take a listen to find out exactly how weird it can get!

Rachel’s had a few different looks over the years, as she went from Hound to just Rachel, to Phoenix, to Marvel Girl, to Prestige to Askani. See if you can guess which costumes apply to which code name.

Business in the front, party in the back, pouches on the belt (a trendsetter both in hair and superhero costumes).

Betsy’s also gone through many looks. I’m grateful for the cover that shows them all in one image.

Episode 87: The Why-Men (Lesser Known X-Men; Mimic, Changeling and Havok)

If you ask people to name X-Men, basically everyone can come up with Wolverine, and most will be able to remember Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm and maybe a few others.  However, who are the X-Men that nobody talks about?  In the first of this new recurring series, Kurt dives into the history of the mutant team to find the lesser-known characters that deserve some additional attention.

Go ahead. Name them all…I can wait.

Mimic could actually control his optic beams, but wore the red shades anyways. Calvin Rankin: Fashion icon.

Changeling’s original appearance. You can see why he…changed it.

Wolverine’s claws with Colossus’s strength behind them. A one-man Fastball Special.

How’d he recognize him without that helmet?

Morph…the sacrificial lamb of the X-Men cartoon.

Finally, the Morph of Age of Apocalypse/Exiles. Just a little shift in appearance here.

I am…Magnetrix! No, wait, I changed my mind…No, stop calling me that!

With her multiple times being mind-controlled/possessed, she has some issues about people “getting in her head,” among others…